Laugh or Cry?

My sister is back in the hospital. The Saint and I took her to the ER yesterday. Elevated heart rate and fluid in the lungs is putting off the radiation therapy she was due to have tomorrow to "kill" her thyroid.

She's been feeling poorly for too long and is beyond upset to be back in the hospital. We're a little low in the morale department around these parts.

So laugh or cry?

OVERHEARD

The Saint calls me today at the office

The Saint: Are you cooking dinner tonight?

Fannie: I was planning to, why?

The Saint: I think the Precious Daughters both have plans tonight.

Fannie: Well, what time? Do the plans involve dinner?

The Saint: I think Precious Oldest has potential dinner plans, I'm not sure about Precious Youngest.

Fannie: It doesn't really matter -I'm cooking whether anyone is home or not. Tell them to do whatever. And any way, I don't want to be "THAT MOTHER" .

The Saint: "THAT MOTHER"?

Fannie: You know, the one that does the guilt.

The Saint: Oh, I'll be sure to pass THAT along!

Fannie: "Well ...when you do make sure you tell them *sniff* you heard tears in my voice!

All joking aside - we need a prayer over here!

P.S. They were both home for family dinner, I'm just sayin'.

Would you?

The Saint texted me to say he would be home late and could I hold dinner. I said but of course:

1. I had a lunch meeting and ate too much.

2. I have veal chops laid in and have been noodling about with a sauce idea involving red wine and dark cherries.

3.The Saint has been travelling and I've been eating dinner by myself.

Here's the thing. Sunday I fixed crab and avocado with pasta. Last night I grilled some chicken and made a caprese salad. Both nights I ate at the table, no television. The way we've eaten family dinner for twenty years, just without the family.

So tell me, would you go to the trouble to cook and set the table for one?